CONWAY - The Coastal Carolina Department of Athletics puts a strong emphasis on developing student-athletes into "Champions for Life." That mission is being embraced by the Chanticleers as 29 received their degrees in December 2011, 24 posted a perfect 4.0 grade point average for the semester and an additional 100 received Dean's List recognition.

Among the 29 who received their degrees, five graduated with honors, including women's soccer defender Julia Baldwin (magna cum laude with a 3.913 career GPA in exercise and sport science); Jacob Downey (magna cum laude with a 3.827 GPA in accounting honors program) football offensive lineman Tim Franklin (cum laude with a 3.705 cumulative GPA in communication); baseball pitcher Keith Hessler (cum laude with a 3.767 GPA in recreation and sport management); and baseball first baseman Rich Witten (cum laude with a 3.613 GPA in exercise and sport science).

Witten joins Chris Gradnigo (men's basketball) as student-athletes who have graduated but are still competing in a Coastal Carolina uniform. Also, CCU graduate and All-American tight end David Duran is seeking a sixth year of eligibility after missing most of the 2011 season due to injury.

The football team led the way with 11 current and former student-athletes receiving their degrees in December. The men's soccer program had four graduate including CCU's all-time leader in shutouts Scott Angevine and MLS Super Draft pick Cyprian Hedrick.

Other academic highlights include senior catcher Tucker Frawley (baseball) earning a 4.0 for the seventh time and having a 3.906 GPA in physics for his career. Football Academic All-America Marcus Lott, who needs to complete a semester's internship to graduate in the spring, carries a 3.889 GPA in middle grades education.

Volleyball junior Samantha Palka posted a 4.0 in the fall and owns a 3.961 career GPA in biology. Starting women's basketball senior Taylor Epley owns a 3.813 GPA in biology, while fellow senior Kira Carter has a 3.719 cumulative GPA in marketing.

In addition to Baldwin's success in the classroom, teammate junior Anna Lowe, who began her career at Air Force, carries a 3.963 cumulative GPA in marine science, while Jessie Benchley currently has a 3.883 career GPA in exercise and sport science. Like Lowe, women's tennis senior Diana Mortlock began her career elsewhere - at North Carolina State - and has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout her career.